Maintaining a home is no easy task. If you add any type of damage to the mix, it is a recipe for disaster and a hassle for the residents. Anyone who has ever faced a water damage problem in their home, knows the extent of damage it can cause. Be it a flood or plumbing issue, the effort that the cleaning process takes is a tedious one. 

We are here to make your life a tad bit easier with some tips that are known to be very beneficial in times of water damage. If you live in the Stamford, CT area, these tips will especially help if you ever face a water damage problem in your home.

Tips for cleaning and clearing your home after water damage:

• As soon as you see the water levels rising up, put on some protective gear. It can even be some rubber shoes, and quickly disconnect the power source, the gas, and unplug all the electrical appliances. This is very crucial, especially if the water levels are rising. You cannot stay in the house for long. The electrical outlets may cause a fire to break out, if not disconnected.

Safety First

• In a case of water damage, your first instinct might be to grab the important things in your home. Remember that your safety is the first priority. There is a chance that the water may be contaminated, or that a floating object might be of risk to you. Getting yourself and the other residents out of the damage area is very important.
• There are a few things you must do before starting the clean up process. When the water level has gone down to a safe level make sure that you click some photos and videos of the damage. These photos and videos will later serve as proof in insurance claims.

The Cleaning Process Of Water Damage

• The damage caused by water can not only wreck your surroundings, but also pollute it. It is important that you not only clean your home well, but also ensure that you disinfect it properly. This will prevent any bacterial growth.
• The area affected by the damage is usually pretty large. It is recommended that you get big bottles of cleaner and disinfectant. They are more economical than buying multiple small ones.
• The level of water damage varies greatly. It is important that you buy a cleaner and disinfectant that is meant to tackle the problems that you are facing specifically. Also, it is very important that you read the labels before buying a product. This will ensure that the ingredients used in it will not aggravate the damage any further.
• The cleaning up process can be very long and tedious, depending on the damage caused by the water. First of all, gather all the soaked and contaminated items in plastic disposable bags. This way, you can sort through them later to decide if anything is still viable, or discard them.
• The next step in the process is to make sure that you shovel up all the mud, silt, and debris in your house before it dries. This will prevent future problems.
• The walls of the flood affected house should be dried safely and thoroughly. Ensuring that it is free from any further damage, especially the interior framing of the walls.
• Hard surfaces such as walls, woodwork and tiles can be cleaned thoroughly using household ammonia and trisodium phosphate. The carpets and furniture of the house can be cleaned using chlorine bleach disinfectant in diluted form.

Mold

• After you are done with cleaning the affected area, the next step is to ensure that your house is not a breeding ground for mold and spores. There are several kinds of commercial non-toxic sprays available in the market to help you deal with this issue. All you have to do is spray the product on any area that you suspect might already have some mold growth. Then let it sit on the affected area overnight. The non-toxic spray will help in removing any existing mold or spore growth, and also prevent any future growth.

The cleaning process is very long and tedious, and can take up to weeks at a time, depending on the damaged caused. It is thus advised that you ensure that your home is thoroughly cleaned, disinfected, and checked for safety measures before remodeling the house, to prevent such water damages again.

This post is a collaboration of writers and editors and may contain relevant, relatable affiliate links. All opinions are our own and for informational purposes only.